Regulations to ban 'education shops'

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake called upon children to seek higher education only in educational institutions which maintain high standards and not in ordinary 'education shops' that have mushroomed all over the country.

He said some educational institutions are operated by highly unqualified persons and children should be aware of the suitability of such educational institutions, which are run by non-sector entrepreneurs.

The Higher Education Minister told the Sunday Observer that the Government will bring regulations to prohibit the operation of 'education shops' for the sake of a large number of students who fail to qualify for universities and receive higher education in private institutions.

"However, our prime objective is to expand education opportunities for children in all urban, rural and remote schools and give them a quality higher education which would help them in their endeavour of seeking employment in Sri Lanka on abroad," he said.

Minister Dissanayake said the Budget described the current status of our university system and proposed a three-year development initiative for all State universities.

Accordingly, university children are given a comprehensive education in English as English is the weapon of the 21st century. Therefore, children should be taught how to write, listen to and communicate the language accurately, so that they could find better employment opportunities.

He said the Government has allocated additional funds to transform the universities of Peradeniya, Moratuwa, Colombo, Sri Jayawardanapura, Kelaniya and Ruhuna to the level of world class universities.

Minister Dissanayake further said that in addition to a small percentage of students in universities, a large number of students are also registered every year for external degree courses and the Government has also allocated funds for this purpose.

He said steps will also be taken to remove inferior quality external degree components which don't offer employment opportunities for the benefit of the student population.